How to be successful as an artist (I hope)

After doing a lot of reading this week, I've concluded that there are really two ways to become a successful artist.

1. Find a technique that you love.
2. Paint subjects that you love.

No wait, let's make that three.

3. Sit down and do it!

As for me, I've always loved the ease and flow I've felt when creating with pen and ink and watercolor. Watercolor is by far my favorite medium, but when I used it with pen and ink, I find there is a freshness to the watercolor that I can't seem to recreate when using it on its own. Therefore, my newest portfolio pieces are going to focus on this medium, because I feel it will show my strengths the best. When I start my self promotion, I want to have twelve very strong pieces that best show my abilities.

Another thing I need to work on is my confidence. :-)

And by the way, I read this great quote in Artists' and Graphic Designers Market:

"Until you try, the answer will always be 'no' ". 

So, are you willing to withstand the many "no's" that you will get in response in order to get that one possible yes?

I AM.

Self promotion and finding the right market

I have been reading all my back issues of Artists and Graphic Designer's Market this week (while waiting for my 2010 issue to come in at the library). There is one thing that has really struck me...when you're preparing to self promote it is very important to know one thing:


Your market. Do the footwork. Read AGDM and find out what kinds of art companies are looking for. Don't limit yourself to one genre though, and check out greeting cards, book covers, magazines. You might be surprised what area of the market you will break into first! However, to keep your first self promotion successful, you must know your market. In AGDM the art buyers will tell you basically what kinds of art they are looking for. Some listings will even tell you what they are NOT looking for. However, even after you go from cover to cover, make a list of applicable markets, THEN visit their websites. See what kind of art they buy...does it match your art? Do they have artist guidelines on their website? Is there an updated mailing address to send your promotional materials to? Also, is there an Art Director that you can put the attention to? These are all important things that may separate your promo card from all others and keep you out of the slush pile (or even worse, the trash can). What is the slush pile? A pile of promo pieces that artists have sent in that don't really capture the director's eye yet at the same time they aren't sure if they will ever use it. Artists can remain in the slush pile for YEARS. Marketing to the right places can stop that from happening! Also, send repeat promo pieces that highlight your recent work. This will jog the director's memory and show that you are on top of current trends.

This will be the end of my "research" week with AGDM. Next week, I am going to start on my "new" portfolio with ten new pieces, each showing consistency in style and a range of related subjects. Then I plan to pick my best pieces, put them on a postcard, and start my mailings. For the first time, I'm going to apply my knowledge and just go for it. It's time to do more than learn...and DO what I've learned.

I'm excited!!

A moment to talk about my favorite children's books: part 1

My dream someday is to have my own children's book published. I actually have many stories in my head with only three that have gotten down on paper and are awaiting being finalized. I've put it off for many years to raise my children, but I think it's time to start easing into it again.

In college I studied Children's Books with Dr. Jerry Mallett at the University of Findlay (home of the Mazza Collection). It was there that I really began to delve into the world of children's books. It's a magical place and somewhere I was always happy to lose track of time in. I would wander the Mazza Collection, studying the original works of art from various (and many!) children's books, trying to know exactly how I could absorb the success of those artists into myself. Dr. Mallett, on my graduation day, approached me and my husband and told me that I had a future, that it wouldn't be easy, but that I had a lot of talent. I'll never forget those words. Thank you, Dr. Mallett.

Where did my love of books really begin? Of course my mom always read to us and took us to the library, which was great. But my 8th Christmas really stands out, and that was the year I received a large, very heavy box. When I opened it, I found inside every Black Stallion novel that Walter Farley had ever written, arranged by number. I loved seeing the titles and the colors and the illustrations on the covers. Anyone not familiar with his novels would need to know that these are YA (Young Adult) novels with only an illustrated cover, no inside illustrations. The Black Stallion world was a place I loved to be. Thank you, Walter Farley.

Just the other day I unpacked my novels and put them all back on my shelf. Seeing their wonderful colors once again and noticing the wrinkled spines on the books I read and read over again awoke something inside of me. I'm excited for the years to come. I do have a future.

The emerging artist- where to start?

So we've all been down the aisles of greeting cards, browsed the magazine rack, purchased gift wrap, maybe even purchased stickers for our scrap book. All of these things (and pretty much any product you can purchase) were created by an artist! Did you read the latest Jodie Piccoult or Nicolas Sparks book? What was it that attracted you to the book....right- the cover! Also designed by an artist. With such a world of possibility, any self motivated artist should be able to find consistent work. However, where on earth does a young artist start out?

Good question. :-) I think that if I had the easy answer I would already have tons of published artwork to show you. Perhaps it isn't as hard as we would think..maybe it's just a matter of inspiration, footwork, and meeting the right person at the right time.

Here is where I plan to start: The yearly edition of the Artists' and Graphic Designers' Market (or AGDM for those in the know). Each year AGDM produces a guidebook of people who buy art- for greeting cards, book covers, magazines, labels, CD's, scrapbooking, puzzles...the ideas are endless. The key is to find your niche in the book locate the publishers that sound like they might find your work useful. I am making a notebook full of possibilities using the latest edition of AGDM. From there I visit websites to see the samples of art that the publisher likes...if it looks similar to mine, I put a star by their name. This is the process I am at right now. After that, I plan to begin a whole new chapter for the emerging artist.

Self promotion.

More on that tomorrow. For now, here is a link to the latest edition of AGDM for 2011. The best place to purchase is Amazon.com.

http://www.amazon.com/2011-Artists-Graphic-Designers-Market/dp/1582979553/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297287344&sr=8-1

Within the book there are also many success stories, which is my favorite part of the book.

Also, FYI, you can get last year's edition totally cheap and most likely still current. A good place to start! :-)

Post One.

In this journal I plan to tell you about my day to day progress in becoming a freelance artist and graphic designer. :-) I'm a 34 year old stay-at-home mom to Joshua (4) and Sarah (8), I have a Bachelor's Degree in Illustration and an Associates in Graphic Design. I have a desire to illustrate greeting cards and childrens' books. I've even written my own children's book, which I plan to share with you all sometime soon. With all this knowledge and practice, it's time for me to take a leap and put it to use. Every day I will do something towards accomplishing this goal. What was my accomplishment today?

This blog. :-)